Submerged greaseless bearing for metallurgical process



p 1959 w. E. ENDREZZE 2,904,179

SUBMERGED GREASELESS BEARING FOR METALLURGICAL PROCESS Filed Sept. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

\ 1 N WWW Sept. 15, 1959 w. E. ENDREZZE SUBMERGED GREASELESS BEARING FOR METALLURGICAL PROCESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1955 INVENTOR.

SUBMERGED GREASELESS BEARING FOR METALLURGICAL rnocnss William Eugene Endrezze, Long Beach, Calif. Application September 29, 1955, Serial No. 537,487

6 Claims. (Cl. 209'464) This invention appertains to ore classifiers and has for its prime purpose to generally improve upon similar structures now well known in the art to treat in a continuous flow circuit, a water bath of finely crushed and pulverized ores, for the purpose of separating the solids according to their setting rate and the size of the water suspended and settling particles from the bath by means of an overflow which contains the suspended solids of quartz and metallic particles below a certain predetermined size called fines of finished classifier product, while the settled separated particles of larger sized solids are progressively moved along the inclined bottom of the apparatus and delivered from the classifier as sands of unfinished grind product. The finished grind product of fines is metallurgically treated for flotation by the addition of lime, acids, and reagents that act as a depressant, flux, and frothers for the collection of the selected metallic particles of value in the froth by a process called flotation. To that end the froth collecting effectiveness of the lime, acids, and, reagents upon the minute metallic particles of value in the process of the flotation department depends upon an oil and grease-free flow circuit.

So, the general problem in the design of such an apparatus. is to devise an acceptable and satisfactory classifier having one end portion of a shaft submerged and carrying a ribbon type spiral conveyor operating along the inclined bottom of the tank for the removal of the settled sands.

One such shaft and ribbon spiral arrangement is shown in Patent No. 1,714,007, granted May 21, 1929, to the present applicant, application for which was filed on September 17, 1927, and was accorded Serial No- 220,122. In that patent there is shown a shaft extending longitudinally of the tank and carrying a ribbon type spiral conveyor that is at its lower end submerged in a bath. of suspended solids, while the lower pillow block bearing for the shaft is exterior of the tank.

Numerous oil and grease stuffing box bearings have been devised for this classifier to dispose the lower end hearing within the tank, yet they present difficulties with serious results of oil and grease leaks into the flow cit.- cuit of the classifier that acts detrimental to the process of generating froth for flotation, and the bearings are short lived by the suspended solids of grit that irrespective of stuffingbox soon. enters the bearing to destroy it. It is. the object of this invention to. let the water bath of finely crushed orespass in and out ofthe bearing through passageways provided in the bearing casing for that purpose, it being impossible to keep the oil and grease locked in and the suspended solids of finely crushed ores locked out of the bearing by conventional submerged bearingpacking, flush water, or any other knownmethod.

A prime feature of the present invention relates to theintroduction. of circumferentially slotted side,- openings of sufficient size circumferentially positioned-through theside of the casing that provides to house the rotative elements of the bearing. These slotted side openings are of a character opening/the, bearing chamber to-thev ex:

, line 1,-1 when taken on a vertical plane" to indicate terior that permit the Water bath of suspended solids of the process free circulation around the rotative elements of the hearing.

A still further object is to devise a satisfactory submerged bea-ring construction for accomplishing both the load carrying rotative motion of the submerged shaft and its fixed ribbon spiral conveyor as well as a proper means to counteract. the abrasive action of the suspended grit and lime deposit that is an inherent characteristic of a lime charged flow circuit. The bearing embodies a rotary mechanism of a composite type revolving as a lime deposit pulverizer upon mated inner and raised tracks.

Some of the features of this invention includes (1) circumferentially extending guideways longitudinally spaced with the inner guideway circumferentially provided upon a rotative shaft member, or (2) with the inner guideway circumferentially provided upon a stationary supporting jack shaft member, (3) circumferentially extending guideways longitudinally spaced with the outer guideways circumferentially provided upon the inner periphery of a hollow stationary casing; (4) acomposite assembly of crusher rollers provided to revolve in bearing support upon the guideways with the outer surface of the rollers in rolling contact with the outer guideways and the inner surface of the rollers in rolling contact with the inner guideways; (5). longitudinally extended slotted side openings through the side of the stationary housing member of the bearing provided for the free circulation of the water bath of suspended solids in and out of the hearing; or (6) longitudinally extended slotted side openings in. the housing portion of the submerged rotating tubular shaft provided for the free circulation of the water bath of suspended solids in. and out of the tubular shaft housing adjacent the bearings; (7) a load carrying structure operatively provided void of lubricant; and (8), a load carryingassembled structure operatively provided to serve as a. rolling crusher.

The foregoing and several novel features of construction are embodied in. the new form. of. apparatus constituting the basis of the invention hereof Other new and important features. of construction. will be manifest from the detailed description which follows- There is henein disclosed the best. embodiment of the invention nowknown. to me. and' that embodiment has been chosen for the purpose of illustration of the inventionv hereofi. It will be described precisely. without attempt to, refer to modifications or equivalents which, however, can be used while still falling within the. ambits of this. invention; The nucleus and bondsv of this invention are set forth in the appending claims but possibly in less: precise: language than. that employed in the body of the-specification The embodiment. chosen. for use in. exemplification. is.

illustrated in the. accompanying drawings constituting. a.

part of thistspecification in which;

Figure: 1, is. avertical. sectional; side View of. the lower end) portion of: a. ribbonspiral conveyor classifier. em:- bodying the. invention. hereof in) support for the rotating. conveygor shaft. within the deep end. or overflow portionof the: inclined classifier tankg;

Figure: 2 is,a| verticaLv sectional side viewof the.upp'er shallow sands-discharged end portion of the classifier. Thisview' alsor shows: thebevel. gear' and" pinion gear that 'fopms. the. drive: head fon-the-ribbon spinal: conveyor and its supporting'rotatable:shaft;

FigureS is a crosssectional elevational view as same: appears when taken infdll on-avertical pl'an'e indicated by thedot' and dash line'S of'Figure' 1* lboling in the di'rection of the arrows. 'Ihis'figureillustrates-tlieem bodiment of the invention hereof; and has dot and' dash for illustrative purposes Figure 1, as same appears looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal side view of the housing and shaft members, showing the slotted side opening by which the water both of suspended solids may enter and leave the rotating elements of the bearing;

Figure 5 is a vertical plan view of the bearing as same appears when taken on a vertical plane indicated by the lot and dash line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal side view of the bearing where the rotatable shaft provides the housing with slotted side openings for the rotating elements within. In hollow tubular shafts of large diameter it is more economical and desirable to provide the lower end of the rotatable shaft to form the slotted housing;

Figure 7 is a vertical plan view of the bearing as same appears when taken on a vertical plane indicated by the dot and dash line 77 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows. This view shows the identical arrangement of the rotating elements housed by the retatable shaft casing;

Figure 8 is a cross section view of the bearing casing as same appears when taken on a vertical plane indicated by the dot and dish line 8-8 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows. This view shows the outer tracking guideways upon the inner periphery of the housing;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal side view of the lower portion of the rotatable spiral conveyor shaft, with the inner tracking guideways circumferentially provided upon the conveyor shaft;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal side view of the roller crusher assembly that operates as a revolving unit upon the inner and outer tracking guideways;

Figure 11 is an end view of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 12 is a cross section view of the rotatable hollow shaft casing as same appears when taken on. a vertical plane indicated by the dot and dash line 1212 of Figure 7 looking in the direction of the arrows. This view shows only the casing portion provided with the outer tracking guideways upon the inner periphery of the hollow rotatable tubular shaft;

Figure 13 is a side view of the stationary supporting jack shaft that has the inner tracking guideways circumferentially provided upon the jack shaft;

Figure 14 is an end view of Figure 13 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figures 15 and 15 are longitudinal side and end views respectively of one end portion of the step machined roller axle; and

Figures 16 and 16 are side and end views respectively of an annular crusher roller.

Reference is now made to the drawings in detail:

The construction illustrated as embodying the invention hereof includes (1) a deep end tank having a transversely curved upwardly inclined trough one end of which is filled to a continuous weir level depth with a water bath of suspended solids with the opposite end thereof journalled for a spiral conveyor rotating submerged within the deep end of the tank with the opposite end thereof journalled for rotation exterior of the elevated end of the tank and coupled to a drive head there; (2) a rear support bearing for the submerged end of the rotatable shaft provided to roll in a water bath of suspended solids; (3) a casing housing the rolling elements of the bearing and provided with longitudinally extending circumferentially slotted side openings through which the water bath of suspended solids enter to surround the rolling elements housed within; (4) crusher rolling elements provided to revolve in a water bath of suspended solids; (5) a weir at the deep end of the tank over which a continuous overflow of water and suspended solids fiow out of the trough to various other departments for treatment by the process of flotation;

4 I (6) a drive head provided to rotate the shaft upon which is constructed the ribbon spiral conveyor for removal of the settled sands from the trough; and (7) a classifier feed launder serving as a means through which a flow of water and crushed solids are fed to the deep end of the trough in a continuous flow circuit for classification. The several parts listed above will be described in detail under the respective headings designated therefor.

Classifier trough The classifier trough is designated as 20, it will be seen that the deep end portion 1 has a transversely curved bottom which is disposed at an incline, being suitably mounted in a frame supporting structure 21 which is also inclined, one end of which may rest on a floor and the other end of which may be supported in elevation in any suitable manner. A feed launder 22 provides means for feeding and delivering into the tank through the inlet opening 23 a mixture of metallurgical treated crushed ore pulp containing suspended solids to be classified. Classification is accomplished within the tank by the water bath from arrow to arrow indicated by c with the suspended solids of fines and slimes flowing over the overflow wier 24 while the solids of sands settle to the bottom and are conveyed up the inclined bottom by the ribbon spiral conveyor 25 to be discharged at the sands discharge 26 that leads to a ball mill (not shown) for further crushing.

Conveyor shaft Longitudinally within the trough and disposed on an incline in spaced parallel relation with the transversely curved bottom is a rotatable shaft 11 one end of which is journalled for rotation in a submerged bearing structure 5 with the opposite end thereof journalled for rotation in a pillow block bearing 27 on the cross member 28 of the frame structure 21. A bevel gear 29 is mounted on the shaft 11 adjacent the bearing 27 and meshes with a bevel pinion 30 operatively connected to be driven by the shaft 31 connected to a suitable power source for rotation thereof. A ribbon spiral 32 is fixed on the outer end of the radial spokes 33 that have their inner ends fixed to the shaft bands 34 securely fixed upon the conveyor shaft. The ribbon spiral conveyor structure 25 is formed coaxially on the shaft 11 so that the major portion thereof is completely submerged when the tank is filled as much as possible with the liquid-solids suspension or mixture of metallurgically treated pulp of suspended solids.

External shaft bearing A hearing construction is provided for receiving the submerged end of the shaft 11 that carries the working load and weight of the assembled spiral conveyor provided for the removal of the settled sands from the trough. Suspended in a suitable manner such as at 3 is a bearing supporting butt plate 4 to which is bolted the bearing casing 5' that houses the completely assembly of elements operating therein. One end of the casing is provided with a circular opening 35 through which the lower end of the conveyor shaft passes to be received within the casing where a pair of spaced outer guideways 6 are provided circumferentially upon the inner periphery of the casing and aligned with a similar pair of spaced inner guideways 10 circumferentially provided upon the end portion of the shaft 11 within the casing. The inner and outer guideways serve as track members upon which the crushing rollers 7 roll, each roller is retained in spaced parallel relation by end machined axle members 8 longitudinally disposed and circumferentially spaced to be secured upon the annular retainers 9 to form an ass'embled bearing unit 15. The assembled unit is free to revolve around the conveyor shaft by tracking upon the guideways as the conveyor shaft rotates.

The casing 5 housing the rotating elements above mentionedv is ofa heavy rigid construction. for supporting the working weight of the spiral conveyor 25: and is itself supported submerged by various means upon the lower end Wall 2 of the tank 1 filled. to overflowing with a water bath of metallurgically treated suspended solids.

A slotted side opening 13 is circumferentially provided through the side of the casing by which the water bath of suspended. solids may communicate in and out of the bearing chamber 12, and is of sufficient area for lime deposits that scale off and other accumulation to fall free from the rotating elementshoused within the casing. The abrasive action, of the suspended solids circulating in and out of the casing is made harmless by the crusher rollers pulverizing the particles of suspended solids in their path upon the tracking guideways. Another slotted side openin llilwserves in the same manner to. scavenge the forward end of the revolving assembled unit 15.

Rotazable tubular casing The rotatable shaft casing or tubular casing, as it may be called, is illustrated by Figures 6, 7, 12, 1'3 and 14,. Its use and place of employment is further exemplified by reference to Figures 1 and- 3 with 10. in this connection one should bear in mind that Figure 6 is a; side view of the submerged end portion of the spiral conveyor shaft, that is a rotatable tubular casing within which is confined the rotating elements forming the bearing therewith.

The important features and parts shown; in the views 6 and 12 comprehend the tubular casing or housing 5 as a hollow rotatable shaft 11 of large diameter ranging from 8 to 16 inches. Accordingly, for economy and space such large diameter tubular shafts provide the externalbearing casing in support for the ribbon spiral conveyor and its operating load. As constructed alongitudinally disposed conveyor supporting stationary jack shaft 35 is itself supported by the butt plate 4* seated as at upon the lower end wall 2 of the tank 1. The butt plate is restrained from rotation by a portion of its rim 37; cutaway as at, 38 to seat in the support upon the lower end wall 2 of the tank as at 3. A pair of inner guideways disposed in spaced parallel relation press fitted circumferentially upon the staionary jack shaft and in vertical alignment with similar outer guideways 6 circumferentially provided on the inner periphery 11 of the tubular casing 11 The crusher roller assembly heretofore described inserts between the jack shaft and the tubular casing providing bearing means for the rollers to track and revolve upon the inner and. outer guideways in support for the spiral conveyor assembly. Slotted side openings 13 and another 14 are circumferentially disposed through the side of the tubular shaft casing 11* providing means by which the water bath of suspended metallurgical treated solids may communicate in and out of the bearing, and is of sufficient area for lime deposits that scale off and other accumulation to fall free from the rotating elements housed Within the tubular shaft casing. The abrasive action of the suspended solids circulating in and out of the tubular casing is made harmless by the crusher rollers pulverizing the particles of suspended solids in their path upon the tracking guideways. With respect to the outer guideways 6 or 6 of the composite casing assembly referred to, it will be noted that they are preferably provided as pressed fitted members applied upon the inner periphery of the easing, while the inner guideways 10 or 10 are preferably provided as pressed fitted members circumferentially upon the exterior surface of the conveyor shaft 11 or the stationary jack shaft 36, thus providing an economical means for removal when in need of replacement.

General In apparatus of the type disclosed it is not the desire to, exclude the water bath of suspended solids from enters ing the submerged hearing by employing stufliug boxes,

packing glands, and packing, but to the contrary, slotted side openings are provided in the bearing housing of sufiicient area for the free circulation of the Water bath of suspended solids in and out of the hearing. The rotating elements submerged Within the tank of suspended solids. are completely void of lubrication of any kind that would mix in the flow circuit to destroy the process of flotation upon the metallurgically treated water bath of suspended solids.

The crusher rollers 7 are of a width and diameter de-. termined by the size and, capacity of the ribbon spira conveyor employed for the removal of the settled sands, from the trough, and are of a character loose fitting upon the machined ends of the axle members.

The axle members 8 serve in the capacity as retainers in spacing of the crusher rollers 7 to track upon the inner guideway 10. and outer guideway 6, and are non.- bearing members.

The annular retainer members 9 are of a heavy con-- struction press fitted to abutment upon the pin ends 8 of the axle members 8 to lock the assembly in a unit 15. of circumferentially spaced rollers 7 that may revolve around its axis as the spiral conveyor shaft rotates. Heavy deposits of lime crust are forced to scale off bythe revolving unit 15 to fall free of the rotating elements and pass out the slotted side openings 13 and 14 provided upon the casing housingthe operating elements of the submerged bearing structure 5 In Figures 8, 9, 12- and 13 there is illustrated that which may be considered the preferred modified forms governed by the spiral conveyor shaft diameter. The

modified forms, however, embodies certain and in factmany of the important novel characteristic features common to each other, while the assembled unit Figure 10 is identicalfor either form.

Pillow block bearing 27 and bevel gears 29 and 30, constitute the drive head for the spiral conveyonthey are. disposed exterior of the classifier trough 20 where customary method of machine lubrication has no means by which such lubricant may enter the flow circuit of the process.

The overflow edge 24 serves as a weir determining the normal operative overflow elevation for liquid with, fine solids therein leaving the tank, and thereby determining the normal operative surface level for the liquid Within'the tank. From the surface level of the liquid. overflowing the fines of suspended solidsv as a finished product of classification to the settled sands of unfinished product upon the inclined bottom of the trough 20, the particles of suspended solids increase in size with depth. The particle size suspended in the zone oc cupied by the submerged bearing structure 5 is coarse and abrasive with adhesive tendencies to build up. and grow in a mass, that tendency is destroyed by the revolving unit 15 and the slotted side openings 13 and 14 pro-- vided upon the casing housing the rotating elements of the submerged bearing.

A submerged bearing of the type as described in the metallurgical process of classification for flotation will operate over a long period of time without any atten-. tion whatsoever. The removal and replacement of wear ing elements is cheap and; easily accomplished, the only parts that need replacement are the axle members, crusher rollers, and tracking guideways upon which the rollers.

roll. The replacement of wearing parts of the bearing is but a small fraction of the cost of unrecovered values lost in the process, due to oil and grease in the flow circuitdestroying the froth of flotation.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility, and advantages of the invention will now be clearly un derstood by those skilled in the art Without a more detailed description thereof. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely byway.

of example since in actual practice they attain the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

This application is a continuation in part of my patent application Serial No, 280,216, filed April 3, 1952, now abandoned for this application.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

I claim:

1. A submerged greaseless bearing system for an apparatus having a tank for holding a water bath of finely crushed ores and metallurgically treated pulp of suspended solids to be classified for the various processes in recovery of the metallic particles of value, said tank being rectangular and open at its top portion and formed with a transversely curved and longitudinally inclined bottom portion that terminates at its upper end in a semicircular trough, a spiral conveyor and a conveyor shaft longitudinally disposed within said tank and positioned from end to end in spaced parallel relation with respect to said transversely curved bottom, one end of said conveyor shaft journalled in elevation exterior of said trough and coupled for rotation there, the opposite end of said conveyor shaft at the lower end of said tank supportingly journalled for rotation within a greaseless bearing structure submerged below the liquid level of said water bath; said greaseless bearing structure characterized by a stationary hollow casing providing a bearing chamber therein and supportingly mounted upon the lower end wall of said tank, an aperture through one end of said casing through which the lower end of said conveyor shaft passes, a circumferentially rotating greaseless bearing structure disposed within said bearing chamber in bearing engagement upon the lower end of said conveyor shaft passed through said aperture, one or more circumferentially slotted openings provided through the side of said casing opening the interior of said bearing chamber to the exterior of said casing providing a passageway for said water bath of finely crushed ores to circulate in and out of said bearing structure, whereby the adhesive accumulation of solids, grit, and lime scale resulting from said metallurgically treated pulp fall through said slotted openings free of the greaseless rotating members housed within the bearing chamber of said casing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bearing casing submerged below the liquid level of said water bath include, a pair of raised outer tracking guideways each circumferentially fixed upon the inner periphery of said bearing casing adjacent said slotted openings, a pair of raised inner tracking guideways each circumferentially fixed upon the surface of said conveyor shaft portion passed through the shaft aperture of said casing, said inner and outer tracking guideways being in vertical alignment within the bearing chamber of said casing, a series of longitudinally positioned and circumferentially spaced step machined pin end axle members with a crusher roller of annular configuration disposed upon each end portion of said axle member and having a pair of heavy duty annular retainer rings each space punched and press fitted to abutment upon the pin ends of said axle members providing a rigidly assembled roller bearing unit thereby, and said roller bearing unit circumferentially disposed to pivot submergedly upon the axis of said conveyor shaft portion within the bearing chamber of said casing with the rim of said rollers rotating and revolving greaselessly around said conveyor shaft in bearing engagement upon said inner and outer tracking guideways adjacent the slotted openings of said casing.

3. A greaseless bearing system for an apparatus having a tank for holding a water bath of finely crushed ores and metallurgically treated pulp of suspended solids to be classified for the various processes in recovery of the metallic particles of value, said tank being rectangular 8 and open at its top portion and formed with a transversely curved and longitudinally inclined bottom portion that terminates at its upper end in a semi-circular trough, a spiral conveyor and a tubular conveyor shaft longitudinally disposed within said tank and positioned from end to end in spaced parallel relation with respect to said transversely curved bottom, one end of said conveyor shaft journalled in elevation exterior of said trough and coupled for rotation there, the opposite end of said conveyor shaft submerged below the liquid level of said water bath circumferentially journalled for rotation upon a greaseless bearing structure mounted upon the lower end wall of said tank; said greaseless bearing structure characterized by the lower hollow portion of said tubular conveyor shaft providing a bearing chamber therein within which the greaseless members of said bearing rotate, one or more circumferentially slotted openings provided through the side of said tubular conveyor shaft opening the interior of said bearing chamber to the exterior of said conveyor shaft providing a passageway for said water bath of finely crushed ores to circulate in and out of said bearing structure, whereby the adhesive deposits of solids, grit, and lime scale resulting from said metallurgically treated pulp fall free of the greaseless rotating members housed within the bearing chamber of said tubular conveyor shaft.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said bearing structure submerged below the liquid level of said water bath includes, a longitudinally disposed stationary jack shaft one end supportingly mounted upon the lower end wall of said tank, and having the opposite end portion projecting forwardly from said end wall into the bearing chamber provided at the lower end of said rotatable tubular conveyor shaft, a pair of raised inner tracking guideways each circumferentially fixed upon the surface of said jack shaft portion, a pair of raised outer tracking guideways within said bearing chamber each circumferentially fixed upon the inner periphery of said tubular conveyor shaft adjacent said slotted openings, said inner and outer tracking guideways being in vertical alignment within said bearing chamber, a series of longitudinally positioned and circumferentially spaced step machined pin end axle members with a crusher roller of annular configuration disposed upon each end portion of said axle member, a pair of heavy duty annular retainer rings each space punched and press fitted to abutment upon the pin ends of said axle members providing a rigidly assembled crusher roller bearing unit thereby, and said roller bearing unit circumferentially disposed to pivot submergedly upon the axis of said jack shaft portion within said bearing chamber with the rim of said annular rollers rotating and revolving greaselessly around said jack shaft in bearing engagement upon said inner and outer tracking guideways adjacent the slotted opening provided through the side of said tubular conveyor shaft.

5. Apparatus according 0t claim 3, wherein the submerged portion of said tubular conveyor shaft is provided to form a bearing casing, a bearing chamber within said casing, said bearing chamber housing the rotating elements of said bearing, at least one slotted opening of sutlicient area through the side of said casing adjacent the rotating elements of said bearing for the free passage in and out of said bearing chamber the water bath of suspended metallic solids of the process circulating through said tank.

6. A submerged greaseless bearing system for an apparatus having a tank for holding a metallurgically treated water bath of finely crushed ores of suspended and settling metallic solids to be classified according to their dilferent settling rates; said greaseless bearing system comprising a bearing casing supportingly mounted below the liquid level of said water bath, a bearing chamber within said casing within which the rotating elements of said bearing are housed, at least one circumferentially slotted opening through the side of said casing opening the interior of said bearing chamber to the exterior of said casing, a pair of raised outer tracking guideways each circumferentially fixed upon the inner periphery of said casing adjacent said slotted opening, a shaft aperture through one end of said casing and a shaft passed through said aperture into the bearing chamber of said casing, a pair of raised inner tracking guideways each circumferentially fixed upon the surface of said shaft, and said inner and outer tracking guideways being in vertical alignment within the bearing chamber of said casing, 21 series of longitudinally positioned and circumferentially spaced step machined pin end axle members with a crusher roller of annular configuration disposed on each end portion of said axle member and a pair of heavy duty annular retainer rings each space punched and press fitted to abutment upon the pin ends of said axle members providing a rigidly assembled crusher roller bearing unit thereby, said roller bearing unit circumferentially disposed to pivot submergedly upon the axis of said shaft portion within said bearing chamber With the rim of said rollers rotating and revolving greaselessly around said shaft in bearing engagement upon said inner and outer tracking guideways adjacent said slotted opening provided through the side of said casing, for the free circulation in and out of said bearing chamber said water bath of suspended metallic solids of finely crushed ores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 445,430 McLanahan et a1 Jan. 27, 1891 1,617,613 Wells Feb. 15, 1927 1,790,253 Taylor Jan. 27, 1931 2,171,779 Young Sept. 5, 1939 2,189,418 Finney Feb. 6, 1940 2,373,662 Dickson Apr. 17, 1945 2,448,655 Bowen Sept. 7, 1948 2,530,676 Berg et al Nov. 21, 1950 

